i have two bass one bc rich with active and a dean with passive. there is a deffinet difference in tone my dean has more of a dull tone to it. i know the basic difference between passive and active is that active is battery powered. can anyone explain the difference more in depth for me please?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
active vs. passive
- Thread starter Deanbassist445
- Start date
Actives usually lower the output impedance. The effects of guitar cable capacitance and loading from whatever you plug the bass into are less of an issue.
Also, some preamps are designed to color the sound, even with the EQ set flat.
Also, some preamps are designed to color the sound, even with the EQ set flat.
Active pickups can boost frequencies. Passive pickups can cut frequencies. Neither is really better then the other, it's a taste thing.
I've had both, passive basses seem to have an aggressive growly tone, like my Jazz bass. I've gotten a deeper more Hi-Fi sound out of my bass with active EMGs. My bass with active Bartolini pickups, is really versitile. I can dial in almost anything I want.
I've had both, passive basses seem to have an aggressive growly tone, like my Jazz bass. I've gotten a deeper more Hi-Fi sound out of my bass with active EMGs. My bass with active Bartolini pickups, is really versitile. I can dial in almost anything I want.
Actives have a preamp which allows you to noodle the tone a little more "on-board" as opposed to sticking with passive low/high-pass filters and a pickup selector. Main problem being that if your battery runs out on an active, you'll get no sound. Ideal is an active/passive switching capability. I've found actives (even with everything flat) to be a tad brighter with a tighter low-end than passives, though passives are a good deal warmer. IMHO, IME etc....
- Aug 21, 2008
- 10,386
- 252
- 68
- Disclosures
- Owner, SGD Music Products
Active basses will sound brighter, even with no EQ and a flat preamp, because the preamp offers a high impedance input, and isolates the pickups from your patch cord, which rolls off high end because of cable capacitance. Very often they will also have a deeper and tighter low end.
Also depending on the preamp it might isolate the pickups from the resistive load of the volume and tone controls.
So what you are hearing is usually the true sound of the pickups, though people are used to the lower resonant peak with passive basses.
Also depending on the preamp it might isolate the pickups from the resistive load of the volume and tone controls.
So what you are hearing is usually the true sound of the pickups, though people are used to the lower resonant peak with passive basses.
